Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB)

To get a better understanding of how VRFB technology works, check out the video below:

While VRFBs have a higher upfront cost than most other batteries, it’s their exceptional lifespan and flexibility that separates them from the pack.

VRFBs typically last at least 10,000 cycles, with future VRFBs lasting likely between 100,000 to 200,000 cycles as technology continues to be refined.

For a comparison, most lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries last between 500 and 4,000 cycles. Lithium-ion batteries don’t provide the flexibility or scalability of their VRFB brethren, so it’s little wonder there has been a renewed interest in vanadium in 2018.

Large-scale VRFBs are already gaining relevance in China, which is now home to the 200MW/800MWh Dalian VRFB, the largest chemical battery in the world.